Good morning everyone! Each month I will post a two part feature. The first part will be an interview with the month’s author and include a short bio. The second part of the feature is a sample of the writer’s work. Sounds fun right?
Everyone give a big welcome to June’s writer. *claps*
Meet Lynne Dempsey.
LYNNE DEMPSEY is the award-winning author of the Take the Dog Out series.
Her picture books include TAKE THE DOG OUT! (a 2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Gold Medal Winner, a 2014 USA Best Book Award Finalist, a 2015 International Book Awards Finalist, a Book Readers Appreciation Group Medallion Honoree, a Global Ebook Award Nominee, and an Indie Book of the Day Award Winner), NUMBERS! (a 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 1st Place Winner for Children’s Picture Books 5 and younger, Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards Bronze Winner for Alphabet/Counting, 2015 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Finalist, 2015 USA Best Book Awards Finalist, and 2015 International Book Awards Finalist), COLORS! (2016 International Book Awards Winner in the Children’s Educational category , 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 1st Place Winner for the Educational Category, and a 2015 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Finalist), SACA AL PERRO, and NUMEROS.
Her pictures books have fun illustrations and sight words for ages 3-5.
“As a mother of two, I know it can be difficult to get children to read. Sometimes, they get frustrated. My goal is to build their reading confidence.”
Lynne lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, their two children, and their dog, Coconut. Coco is the inspiration for the picture book series.
Visit her website and sign up for her free newsletter at www.takethedogout.com.
Now onto the interview!
What do you primarily write?
“I primarily write for children. My award-winning Take the Dog Out picture book series is for ages 3 through 5. Locally, my books are available at Aaron’s Books in Lititz, PA. It’s a wonderful bookstore in beautiful Lititz, PA. If you’re in the area, please visit them. My print books are also available online through Amazon, IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, and CreateSpace. My e-books are available through Amazon.”
Where have you published?
“My books are published under the names Lynne Dempsey and Simply Creative. Simply Creative is my business name.”
Are the people or experiences in your books based on someone you know, or events that occurred in your own life?
“Our dog, Coconut, is the inspiration for the Take the Dog Out series. One day, Coco was busy ripping apart our newspaper, and a story was born! Mandy Newham-Cobb, the fabulous illustrator for the Take the Dog Out series, asked for photos of Coconut while she was creating illustrations for the first book. My family was also in the photos. She used those images to help create the family in the books.”
How did you come up with the titles for your novels?
“We needed to take the dog out. LOL. I’m working on a middle grade novel. I haven’t decided on the titles. It’s more difficult this time.”
What cultural value do you see in writing/reading/storytelling/etc.?
“Reading is so important. If we can get children to love reading, it will change their lives.
My picture books have very simple text, and the stories use humor. My goal is for children to giggle while they learn. I don’t want reading to be a chore. I want it to be a joy. The more children read, the more they learn. It’s a wonderful cycle. Writing and storytelling is part of that cycle.”
Is there a message in any of your stories that you want readers to grasp?
“”Take the Dog Out!” is a humorous picture book about a family who is too busy to take their dog outside. When the family ignores the barks, baking pans fly through the air, coffee splashes on the carpet, and Grandma gets wrapped in a cloud of toilet paper. Eventually, the family decides a walk outside is what they all need. The message is family togetherness and paying attention to your pets’ needs. Also, it touches on the appreciation of the outdoors. When the family is inside, the colors are subdued. It’s only when the family is outside, enjoying nature, when the colors pop.”
Do you proofread/edit all your own stories or do you get someone to do that for you?
“I always have editing help. I look to others for developmental editing and proofreading.”
What are you currently working on?
“I’m working on multiple projects.
Mandy and I just completed a coloring and activity book. It was released earlier this month. We’re also having fun with a doodle book that allows children to explore their imagination and artistic creativity.
I’m also working on a middle grade novel and an early chapter book series. Plus, I plan on releasing adult coloring books later in June.”
Anything else – links you want to share or links to your Twitter/blog/page
“I’m excited about two recent awards. “Colors!” is a 2016 International Book Awards Winner in the Children’s Educational category, and it is a 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal for Best Children’s Illustrated E-book.”
Where to find Lynne –
Email: lynne@lynnedempsey.com
Website: http://www.takethedogout.com and http://www.lynnedempsey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Take-the-Dog-Out/391526444294857
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dempseylynne
Goggle+: https://plus.google.com/+LynneDempsey
One last thing… “Since I’m a picture book author, I thought I’d send a picture. Here is one of Mandy’s favorite “Colors!” illustrations. I love it, too.”
Thanks Lynne! Congrats on your latest award. 🙂
Check out a preview of Lynne’s “Colors” tomorrow morning.
Raven C. Eckman 
One response to “June Author’s Gallery Interview”
[…] “I wanted to mention “COLORS!” received a new award. “COLORS!” is an Award-Winner in the Children’s Educational category of the 2016 International Book Awards. http://www.internationalbookawards.com/2016pressrelease.html A book written by Pope Francis won an award in the Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Non-Fiction category. (I’m really thrilled about this award. ) I attached images from three of my picture books. Grandma wrapped in toilet paper is the “Take the Dog Out!” image. The chase scene is a “Numbers!” image. “The Colors!” images are a purple flowers scene and a picnic scene. I also included a photo from last year. “A Take the Dog Out” mural was hung in the Strasburg-Heisler Library. Mandy Newham-Cobb, the illustrator, is on my left. That was a big day for both of us. Director Kristin Fernitz (far right) and Youth Librarian JJ Landis (second from the right) are in the photo. Kristin gave me valuable guidance for the first “Take the Dog Out” picture book. During the creation of “Colors!,” Kristin and JJ both gave me wonderful input.” If you missed the interview with children’s author Lynne Dempsey, click here! […]
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